HB4945 EngrossedLRB101 18724 KTG 68179 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning urban problems.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 1. Findings. 
5    (1) The General Assembly finds that in the 20th Century 
6African-American communities in Illinois were substantially 
7economically disadvantaged due to the policy of "redlining", 
8whereby mortgage opportunities were denied to 
9African-Americans or provided at greater than average interest 
10rates.
11    (2)
The General Assembly finds that through these policies, 
12the African-American population of Illinois became 
13concentrated in certain neighborhoods in Illinois cities. Due 
14to the lack of access to capital, many of the renters in these 
15neighborhoods were at the mercy of unscrupulous landlords, who 
16failed to provide the proper maintenance and improvements to 
17their properties. African-American homeowners in these 
18neighborhoods often lacked the funds for proper upkeep. As a 
19result, these neighborhoods began to become rundown and 
20dilapidated. Soon thereafter these neighborhoods were deemed 
21"blighted". Policymakers began to look for solutions to the 
22problem of "blighted areas".
23    (3) The Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act of 1947 was 
24enacted in an attempt to address the blighted areas problem.  
 
 
HB4945 Engrossed- 2 -LRB101 18724 KTG 68179 b

1However, the General Assembly finds that the ultimate effect of 
2this Act was to codify discriminatory housing practices by 
3declaring large swaths of African-American neighborhoods 
4blighted areas. This resulted in these areas being condemned 
5and demolished and the residents being forced to move without 
6affordable housing readily available. The ultimate result was 
7that the condemned areas were not redeveloped with affordable 
8housing, but rather converted to mixed industrial or highway 
9use, effectively serving as a "moat" between African-American 
10neighborhoods and the rest of the city.
11    (4) The General Assembly finds that the stain of the 
12discriminatory effects of the Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act 
13of 1947 cannot be erased. However, the effects can be 
14recognized and with the repeal of the Act, the path toward 
15healing can begin.


 

16    (315 ILCS 5/Act rep.)

17    Section 5. The Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act of 1947 is 
18repealed.
  
 
19    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
20becoming law.